Speed-regulator



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. LOMBARD.

SPEED REGULATOR.

No. 594,632 Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

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N. LOMBARD.

SPEED REGULATOR.

No. 594,632. Patented Nov. 30,1897.

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No. 594,632. Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

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Urn-ran STATES PATENT Erica.

NATHANIEL LOMBARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOMBARD WATER WVHEEL GOVERNOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND PORTLAND, MAINE.

SPEED-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,632, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed. December 12, 1896. Serial No. 615,499. (No model.)

.1 0 an whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL LOMBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sulfolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus termed regulators, and adapted to control the speed of some prime motor at a fixed rate and prevent variations due to differences in the load or in the strength or volume of the forces designed to impart activity thereto.

My invention relates to speed-regulators designed to control more particularly waterwheels, although it may be adapted to the control of other prime motors with equally good results.

My invention belongs to that type of speedregulator in which the effects of centrifugal action are employed upon revolving weights.

My invention relates to and may be considered as an improvement upon the invention disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 533,656, issued in my name on the 5th day of February, 1895.

The primary characteristic in this invention consists in the maintenance of the weights in the same plane of revolution and consequently successive changes are required in the main gate to increase or diminish the supply medium or force which controls the prime motor for variation in load or other causes; furthermore, in mechanism by which the gate is opened more or less directly by the action of the weights and is then checked and held fast prior to the return of the weights to their normal plane of revolution; moreover, in the assemblage of parts by which a positive control in the checking of the main gate is effected and in the maintenance of said parts effecting said change of gate in such and to so continue until a new departure of the weights occurs.

The drawings herewith presented represent, in Figure 1, a side elevation of a speed regulator embodying my invention and adapted to control a main gate for any prime motor. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the top portion of the same apparatus. Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is avertical section on line 4 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar section on line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the parts in the regulator designed to neutralize the return movement of the balls which would otherwise change the gate.

In the speed-regulator of the class hereinbefore premised the regulator for purposes of operation may be considered to be divided into four groups of parts: first, the regulator-weights secondly, a device controlled by the weights for actuating and holding the supply-gate for any shift in position; thirdly, in apparatus which interconnects the gate-actuating device with the weights, and,fourthly, in a group of parts operated by the gate-actuating device to control the third group of parts, whereby the return movement of the weights is neutralized and the gate is main; tained locked during such return.

My present invention is embodied in the various elements which compose the third group of parts; and the object of my improvements is to assemble these elements in such a manner that a positive result is obtained from the action of the gate-controlling parts or second group of parts upon the fourth group of parts or such as are intended to neutralize the effects of the return movement of the weights. Ilence every time the gate is moved a positive determined action of the fourth group of parts is had upon the third group of parts. This is of great importance.

In the carrying out of my invention and for purposes of illustration I have shown the first, second, and third groups of parts practically the same as in my patented invention before referred to. Briefly described, they are as follows: a standard 2, upon which are mounted the weights 3 for rotation, by means of the pulley t, to the prime motor to be controlled. This pulley is attached to a shaft 5 with gears 6 7. Upon the standard is a hollow fixed post 8 to contain asleeve 9, reciproeated by the weights. Centrally within said sleeve is a rod 10, furnished with a toothed wheel 12 at a portion of its length and in screw-thread engagement at the top end for rotation axially within the reciprocating sleeve. This group of elements constitutes the third group of parts. The second group of parts consists of a fluid-filled cylinder 13 to contain a piston 1-1, having a rod 15, which terminates in a toothed rack 15. A valve 16, secured to the lower end of the rod 10, serves to regulate the movement of the piston and its toothed rack. Other elements may be substituted for the gate actuating and locking parts.

Now, as before premised, the purpose of my invention is to endeavor to preserve the speed at a constant rate and to obviate the continued shifting first too fast and then too slow, occasioned by excessive or insufficient changes of the gate through the agency of the weights. In the present instance for purposes of illustration a piston, cylinder, and valve for the cylinder constitute the second group of parts, and when the main gate is shifted by a departure of the weights from their normal plane of rotation this group of parts is put into activity. inder-valve and the piston moves to shift the gate; but before the full effect of the change in the main supply-gate is felt by the prime motor the fourth group of parts is operated and checks the movement of the piston, which is effected by the return of the rod 10 to the position it had previous to the departure of the weights from their normal plane. This return of the rod is by rotation or partial rotation. This fourth group of parts by which a positive motion is obtained quickly and efficiently to return the rod 10 to its normal position, whereby the main supply-gate is held locked, consists of the following instrumentalities: A rack 18, adapted for sliding movement upon the governorstandard, meshes with the toothed wheel 12, (see Fig. which is fast on the rod 10. This wheel is somewhat longer than the width of the rack to allow for movement of the rod 10 without danger of disengagement from the rack. To impart proper reciprocating movement to said rack, and thereby revolve the rod 10, a shaft or rod 10 is attached at one end of said The weights operate the cyl-.

rack and is journaled in a vertical stand 20. This shaft terminates in a screw-threaded rod 91 for adjustable movement within a toothed sleeve 23, movably mounted in a fixed support or tube 24. This sleeve is actuated by and is engaged with a toothed sector 25, affixed to one end of a rocker-arm 26, united by a rod 27 to a post 28, fast to the toothed rack 15", forming part of the piston-rod 15. In the operation of this governor and to provide for both the rise and fall of the regulatorweights and a consequent rise or fall of the rod 10 and further axial rotation of said rod in two directions I provide a pulley 29 and a belt 30 to the shaft 5. The shaft 31, which carries said pulley 29, is fitted with a pivotal extension 32, having a toothed pinion 3i arranged to stand idle or to mesh with either of the gears 36. Said gears are affixed to separate sleeves held in the stand 20 and are fitted with splines to allow free movement of the shaft 19, grooved at 37 for this purpose, but are compelled to rotate in unison with the shaft. Reference to Fig. 4 shows the face of the pinion 34:, which is journaled at this point in a swinging post 38. Above the gear is a spring-actuated latch 3.), notched to receive a stud or horn from the shaft. These parts insure inactivity of the pinion and position it centrally between the gears 35 :30. To shift this pinion and its shaft quickly and to cause proper and certain engagement with its gears 35 36, I pivotally attach a horizontal rod 40 to the free end of the extension 32 (see Fig. 5) and position upon it two coiled springs 11 4K1, which bear on opposite sides of an oscillating plate or finger-bar 4:2, mounted upon a post -l3 and held in balance by the springs. Further, upon the end of the shaft 19 proximate to the finger-plate I extend a transverse arm a5, furnished with an antifriction-roller i6, normally located in the notch e7. A yol; e-shaped handle 48 spans the rod 10 and enables the regulator to be operated manually. From the above description of parts it will be readily understood that a movement of the weights to operate the main gate to the prime motor raises or lowers the rod 10; but to anticipate the effects of this gate movement the fourth group of parts is actuated to rotate said rod and return it at once to its former position without affecting the movement of the balls in order to lock the gate. lIence while the governor-weights are returning to their former position after the shift of the main gate it is necessary to neutralize their effect upon the rod 10. Accordingly the movement of the fourth group of parts is so timed by means of the pulley 20 that the rod 10 is slowly turned to compensate for the movement of the weights. In this way it is held fixed so far as vertical rise or fall is concerned with respect to its con trolling effects upon the main gate, which is held fixed and locked. As a consequence by this rotary movement of the rod the weights can exercise no effect upon the main gate IIO ' to the shaft 19.

during their return to the normal except a new departure occurs before their full return due to a subsequent change in speed.

In Fig. 1 the piston-rack 15 is mounted upon a roller-bearing 50, secured in standards 51. Vertically above is a shaft 52, carrying a pinion 53, which engages the rack. Said shaft may extend directly to and operate the main gate, or the latter may be controlled by a train of gears, one of which is shown at 54. r In the operation of this regulator should the balls rise or increase of speed occur less gate is required. By rise of the weights the rod is thrust down, since it cannot rotate.

This movement of the rod operates the second group of parts or such as control the main gate. In the present instance these parts (for purposes of illustration the valve 16, piston 14:, and rack 15) are rendered active to partially close the gate or main valve. Immediately upon the travel of the piston the fourth group of parts is set in activity to revolve the rod 10 to stop the movement of the second group of parts at once and to lock the gate and prevent the eifect'of the departure of the weights from being continued too long. The travel of the piston-rod 15 actuates the toothed sleeve 23 through the interconnecting parts 25 26 27, and the rod 19 is thrust endwise. This thrust actuates the rack 18 and axially rotates the rod 10, which is returned to the position occupied prior to the movement of the Weights. This act stops and locks the gate-actuating devices. At the same time this thrust of the rod 19 causes one of the gears 36 to mesh with the pinion 34. This sudden endwise thrust of the shaft causes the arm to rock the finger-plate, which compresses one of the springs 41 41 until the pressure forces the roller 46 out of the notch. The tension of the compressed spring, now released, quickly throws the pivotal extension sidewise, and the pinion is positively engaged with and there held against its cooperating gear. Since this pinion is in constant rotation, this movement is now imparted The toothed sector 25 and sleeve 23 being now fixed points, the rod 19 travels endwise slowly and in this way revolves the rod 10, which is now given reverse rotation. Hence it will be seen that in the parrial shutting of the gate the weights will drop, but while they are completing this act or during their return to the normal plane of rotation the rod 10 is being slowly rotated, so that a reverse sudden reciprocation of the rod is prevented, while a gradual movement occurs timed in consonance with the return motion of the weights. As a consequence the second group of parts, with the gate, is held fixed, while the rod 10, by means of its rotation, is to all intents and purposes of variable length,

its increase or decrease in length varying according to the departure of the weights by rise or fall and is effected automatically by the fourth group of parts.

When the straight-line thrust of the rod 19 occasioned by movement of the main gate has been counteracted by rotary endwise movement of said rod, the arm 45, with its roll 46, engages the central notch 47. At this moment the tension of the springs is balanced and the pinion is held inactive between the two gears. So long, however, as the arm 45 is in contact with either end of the finger-plate the springs are unbalanced and rotary movement of the rod 19 continues. The duration of this rotary movement is, as before premised, timed to be very nearly or exactly in unison with the time it requires the weights to move from the point of maximum departure back to their normal plane of rotation. It is to be understood that the straight-line thrust of the rod 19 upon the rack 18 is sufficient to rotate the rod 10 to return it to its first position before the departure of the weights. In this way excessive travel of the gate is prevented, and said gate is immediately checked and locked and so continues until a new departure of the weights occurs, or, prior to their return, a new departure occurs due to some further subsequent change in speed.

What I claim is- 1. In a regulator the combination with centrifu gal weights, a reciprocating rod for axial rotation, a main gate operated by the weights through the agency of the rod, and intermediary mechanism to connect the rod with the gate, of elements positively connectedin train and actuated by the movement of the gate to rotate the rod during the interval required to return the weights to their normal position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a regulator a plurality of centrifugal Weights, a rod for right-line reciprocations induced by said weights, mechanism interconnecting said rod with the main gate, and a main gate, combined with a revoluble shaft adapted for endwise movement to rotate the rod.

3. In a regulator centrifugal weights, a rod adapted to be reciprocated by the weights, a main gate, mechanism interconnecting the gate with the rod and serving to actuate and lock the gate, combined with a shaft for rightline movement endwise to revolve the rod, and mechanism from the prime motor to rotate the shaft, substantially as specified.

4. In a regulator, centrifugal weights, a rod for right-line thrust and rotary motion, a main gate, gate-operating mechanism which connects the rod with the gate to actuate and lock said gate, combined with a stationary tubular support, a toothed sleeve united with the gate-operating mechanism, ashaft interlocked with the rod, and means for revolving said shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a governor, a plurality of centrifugal weights, a rod reciprocated by said weights, a toothed wheel affixed to said rod, a main gate, gate-actuating mechanism united with and controlled by said rod, combined with a fixed support, a toothed sleeve therein, a shaft united by screw engagement with said sleeve,

a rack operated by the shaft and meshing with the toothed wheel, actuating-levers from the toothed sleeve to the gate-operating mechanism, and means for revolving the shaft in either direction as specified.

6. In a governor adapted to control the main gate or valve of some prime motor, the combination with centrifugal weights, gate actuating and locking mechanism, and a rod for right-line and axial rotary movement, of a toothed wheel upon the rod, a rack meshing with said wheel, a shaft attached to the rack, two gears mounted in a fixed standard, and a pinion in constant rotation and to engage with either gear, substantially as described.

7. In combination with centrifugal weights, a rod equipped with a toothed wheel, gateactuating mechanism controlled by the rod, a shaft-rack equipped at one end to mesh in the toothed wheel, screw-threznled at the opposite end to engage in a toothed sleeve, a pinion for constant rotation, two gears in a fixed stand to rotate the shaft, said shaft to have free endwise thrust through the gears, and a sector operated by the gate-actuating mechanism to impart a thrust to the shaft.

8. In governors, the combination with contrifugalweights, a rod, a toothed wheel thereupon, a shaft when thrust endwise to revolve the rod, two gears in a fixed stand, a pivotally-mounted shaft extension having a pinion on its free end, a rocking, spring-actuated, balanced finger-plate, and an arm in contact with said plate to unbalance said plate when the shaft is thrust endwise.

9. In a governor, centrifugal weights, a rod adapted for direct endwise thrusts and axial rotation, gate actuating mechanism controlled and locked by said rod, a toothed sleeve adapted to slide at times and actuated by the gate mechanism, a sliding toothed rack to engage a toothed wheel on the rod, combined with a shaft which interconnect-s said rack and sleeve, gears upon said shaft, a balanced finger-plate for rocking movement upon rightline thrust of the shaft, and a pinion for constant rotation of the shaft, while the fingerplate is held unbalanced.

10. In a governor the combination with centrifugal weights, a rod for variable adjustments in length, a main gate, gate actuating and locking mechanism controlled by said rod, a sliding sleeve operated by the gate mechanism and mounted in a fixed support, and a rack to engage the rod, a shaft united with the rack and screw-threaded atone end to enter the sleeve, a balanced finger-plate held in unbalance upon right-line thrust of the shaft, and means to continue the rotation of the shaft and turning of the rod until the said linger-plate is restored to balance.

11. In a governor,the combination with centrifugal weights, a rod reciproeated by-said weights, gate locking and actuating devices operated by the rod, and a main gate, of a rotary shaft, mechanism connected with the gate operating devices to impart endwise thrust to the shaft and axial rotation of the rod, and apparatus united to the shaft to produce reverse rotation of the rod during the return of the weights to their normal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

N ATIIANIEL LOMBARD.

\Vitnesses:

II. E. LODGE, THOMAS CLEARY. 

